Traveler ring assemblies



Aug. 13, 1963 Filed July 11, 1962 A. E. BACKUS TRAVELER RING ASSEMBLIES 2 Sheets-Sheet l IEZEZW 2:7:

ARTHUR E. BACKUS 1963 A. E; BACKUS 3,100,374

TRAVELER RING ASSEMBLIES Filed July 11, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 22am Z23:

ARTHUR E BACKUS b 5 0 2/41; Kme/JM United States Patent 3,100,374 TRAVELER RTNG ASSEMBLIES Arthur E. Backus, 1023 Thorndale Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed July 11, 1962, Ser. No. 209,010 16 Claims. (Cl. 57122) The invention relates to improvements in traveler ring assemblies of the character used in the production of thread or yarn and is concerned primarily with the novel construction and assembly of its component parts which requires no lubrication and which permits selective heighth adjustment of the upper traveler guiding ring thereof to facilitate mounting and removal of the traveler and control the clearance between the traveler and guiding rings to suit varying conditions.

Present known types of traveler guiding rings made of one piece are substantially rigid and non-deformable and require that the traveler be snapped over the ring and, when replacement is required, the traveler must be broken or deformed. This mode of mounting or removal often results in the working surface of the trawler ring becoming chipped, notched or otherwise marredto such extent that there is a tendency for the traveler, which advances around the traveler ring at a high rate of speed during machine operation, to flutter or chatter. As a result, the thread or yarn is fed to the bobbin or quill in such manner as to wind non-uniformly and increase the tension on the thread or yarn to a point where it breaks.

Known traveler guide assemblies made of a plurality of relatively adjustable parts intended to adapt them for ease in mounting or removing the traveler, embody various structural characteristics that render them excessively costly to manufacture, or they are incapable of heighth adjustment to intermediate positions so as to control clearance between the guiding ring and traveler to suit varying conditions of use.

The structure herein disclosed embodies structural characteristics that result in an assembly that overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantages resulting from the use of prior known types of traveler ring assemblies.

More particularly, the present assembly involves the use of a pair of concentrically arranged traveler guiding rings, one of which is clamped firmly to the ring rail and the other of which is rotatable adjustable to vary the setting or effective heighth of the working surface of said ring and may then be locked in place firmly. Further, the assembly is adapted to receive and hold a yarn shield in place and includes accessory means to facilitate mounting of the assembly on a ring rail having an opening that is smaller than the size necessary to insure sufficient clearance for the traveler.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel traveler ring assembly of the character described.

Another object is to provide novel means to facilitate heighth adjustment of the upper traveler guiding ring and to lock it in an adjusted position.

Another object is to provide a traveler ring assembly with novel means for mounting a yarn shield in place. 7

Another object is to provide a traveler ring assembly that is not expensive or diflicult to manufacture; may be easily and quickly assembled and readily adjusted in elfective heighth to facilitate mounting and removal of the traveler; may be locked firmly in any predetermined heighth adjustment even while in use, and which has long serviceable life.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a prleifehrred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in w c FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the traveler ring assembly showing it mounted on a rail frame and with the upper traveler guiding ring in a position assumed at the time of assembly.

FIG. 2. is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the assembly, showing the upper traveler guiding ring adjusted circumferentially in a direction to increase its effective heighth.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1. 1

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the upper traveler guiding ring, partially broken away.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the base ring, showing a portion broken away.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the present invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, the traveler ring assembly 10 is shown mounted on .a rail frame 11. In practice the rail frame is of a length commensurate with the size of the spinning or twisting machine of which it is a part and it is formed with a series of circular openings 12 (one best shown.- in FIGS. 3 and 4) and over each of which is mounted one traveler ring assembly. 1

The traveler ring assembly 10 illustrated, is comprised essentially of a base ring 13* upon which is mounted a lower traveler guiding ring 14 and an upper traveler guiding ring 15. In the embodiment illustrated, the base ring *13' is seated upon a clamp ring 16 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which constitutes an adapter that is used in installations where the circular opening 12 in rail frame .111 is of insufficient size to accommodate a traveler 17 that is engaged over the guiding rings -14--15 in the .usual manner. The assembly also includes a yarn shield 18 having a depending annular skirt 18a that extends downwardly through circular opening 12 and has an external circumferential flange 18b that is seated in an annular recess 19 on the bottom face of clamp ring 16 so as to be clamped firmly between said clamp ring and rail frame 111. This shield protects the yarn or thread, in the event of breakage, against coming into contact with lubricated parts of the machine on the under side of the rail frame. The base ring 13 and clamp ring 16, if used, are securely held in place on the rail frame as by bolts or screws 21.

The base ring 13, best shown in FIG. 6, comprises a circular body cast or otherwise formed from suitable metal, such as aluminum, and having a pair of diametrically opposed external mounting flange segments 22 formed with apertures 23 to receive the mounting bolts 21 therethrough. The extremities of flange segments 22 have bearing seats 24 thereon upon each of which is mounted a clamp 25 to be described in detail presently.

The body portion of the base ring 13 has an upwardly opening circumferential channel 26 on its top surface, the bottom wall of which is formed with a plurality of upwardly circumferentially inclined surfaces 27, preferably four as shown, each terminating at its juncture with the other in a stop shoulder 28. The outside cincumferential wall 29 of said upwardly opening channel has corresponding upwardly circumferentially inclined top surfaces 31 each terminating in a stop shoulder 32 in radial alignment with one of the shoulders 28. The shoulders 28- 32 are disposed in the regionof each bearing seat 24.

The bottom face of base ring 13 is formed with an inverted circumferential channel 33 that terminates on its outside edge in an annular marginal recess 34. The provision of this channel 33 defines an inner depending circumferential flange 35 whereas channel 26 on .the upper surface of said base ring defines an inner upstanding circumferential flange 36. As perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these opposed flanges 35, 36 are con- "construction and is made preferably of suitable shaperetaining plastic material and his shaped in section, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to fit snugly in and con-form to opposed surfaces of' base ring 13-. More specifically, said lower traveler guiding ring14 includes an inner. upwardly inclined cylindrical wall 38 which lies flat against the inside peripheral surface 37 of the base ring. The lower edge of said wall 38 merges with a circumferential nose portion 39 that embraces the depending circumferential flange 35, and terminates in an annular rib 41 that fits snugly in channel 33 and has its outer margin defining 'an external peripheral flange 42 that seats in annular marginal recess 34. When the base ring 13 is secured to the rail frame, or to clamp ring 16, the fiange 42 is clamped firmly in place so as to hold the lower traveler guiding ring 14 against movement in any direction.

The upper traveler guiding ring l5,' best shown in FIG. 5, also is fabricated as by molding plastic material and 'is comprised preferably of a rigid "thin wall structure substantially channel-shaped in section and is adapted to be assembled, right side up, on the base ring with its 1 channel portion seated in the base ring channel 26; The bottom'wall of the channel 43 ofsaid upper traveler guiding ring is divided into segments each inclined upwardly; asat 44, from a substantially vertical shoulder 45 so as to define a plurality of cam surfaces complemental to the four circumferentially inclined surfaces 27 on the'base ring. -The upper traveler guiding ringalso has outwardly extending flange segments 46 integral with i the upper margin of the outside wall of each cam segment 44- that extends parallel to the bottom wall of the respective cam segment and which isfadap'ted to rest upon the respective inclined surfaces 31 on the base ring. When assembled on the basering the upper traveler guiding ring is held in place rotatably by means of the clamp members 25 which are secured to hearing seats 24 asby means of I screws 47.

In order to adapt the upper traveler guiding ringlS for assembly and disassembly without removing clamp members 25, the outwardly extending flange segments 46 have their opposed ends spaced apart to provide a gap 48 of sufficient width to permit the upper ring to be mounted or removed by aligning the gap with the clamp member 25, as shown in FIG. 1. 3

When mounted, the upper traveler guiding ring can be rotated manually relative to base ring 13 so as to cause the former to be carried into elevated or lowered positions through surface engagement of the cam surfaces traveler guiding ring is in its extremelowermost position which affords clearance for the terminals 17a''17b of traveler '17 to pass freely over the wear surfaces. of the traveler guidin-g rings, When rotated counterclockwise,.the upper traveler guiding ring is carried into a raised position such as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, and the traveler-terminal ends are engaged over the upper peripheral edge or wear surface 49 of the upper traveler guiding ring and around the nose portion 39 of the lower traveler guiding ring so as to be held loosely'in place.

In order to visually determine the relative position of the upper traveler guiding ring so as to facilitate its accurate repositioning after it has been rotated to permit replacement of a traveler, the upper face of the base ring flange segment 22 is provided with graduation markings Sl and the upper traveler guiding ring '15 has a radially extending arm 52 for selective positioning relative to said markings. Preferably there are two such arms 52 diametrically opposed to each other so as to additionally afford means for manually engaging the upper traveler guiding ring for rotating same. a When the ring is adjusted, clamp members are tightened to prevent ring displacement.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative,

' ring and overlying the inner peripheral wall of said base ring, an upper traveler guiding ring seated on said base ring, a plurality of circumferentially disposed upwardly inclined cam surfaces on the bottom surface of the upper traveler guiding ring, said upper traveler guiding ring cam surfaces seating on the base ring cam surfaces and being rotatable relative to the base ring to vary the effective highth of the upper traveler guiding ring, and means to lock the upper traveler ring in positions of relative adjustment.

2. The traveler ring assembly recited in claim 1, in which means to lock the upper traveler guiding ring comprises clamps mounted on the base ring. I

3; The traveler ring assembly recited in claim 1, in

which-manually engageable means is formed on the upper traveler guiding ring to facilitate its being rotated. V 4. The traveler ring assembly recited in claim 1, in which the upper traveler guiding ring and base ring have complemental means indicating the relative positions of said rings circumferentially I 5. The traveler ring assembly recited in claim 1, in which the means to lock the upper traveler guiding ring adjusted comprises clamps mounted on the base ring and engageable over the peripheral margin of the upper traveler guiding ring and wherein the said margin has peripheral recesses to facilitate its removal Without removal of the clamps.

6. The traveler ring assembly recited in claim 1, in which a yarn'shield isclamped between the base ring and rail frame; p

7. The-traveler ring assembly recited iu-claim 1, in

which a clamp ring is arranged between the base ring and rail frame and a yarn shield is clamped between said clamp ring and frame.

8; A traveler ring assembly comprising a base ring, means securing said ring to a rail frame, :a plurality of circumferentially inclined cam surfaces on a top surface of said base ring, a lower traveler guiding ring clamped between the frame and base ring, an upper traveler ring seated on said base ring, and a plurality of circumferentially inclined cam surfaces on the bottom surface of the upper traveler guiding ring, said upper traveler guiding ring cam surfaces seating on the base ring cam surfaces, said upper traveler guiding ring being rotatable relative to the base ring to vary theeifective highth of the upper traveler ring. 7

9. A traveler ring assembly comprising a base ring, means to secure said ring to a rail frame, alower traveler guiding ring secured to. thebase ring and having an up wardly extending inner circumferential wall overlying the inside peripheral surface of the base ring, said lower traveler ring having an annular nose portion for engagement of one terminal of a traveler thereover, an upper traveler guiding ring arranged concentric with and seated on the base ring, matching cam surfaces on the opposed t-un surfaces of the upper traveler guiding ring and base ring, said upper traveler guiding ring being rotatable relative to the base ring for effective vertical adjustment of the upper traveler guiding ring to facilitate mounting and removal of the upper terminal of the traveler over said upper traveler guiding ring, and means to clamp said upper traveler guiding sing firmly in a position of circumferential adjustment.

10. A traveler ring assembly comprising a base ring, a lower traveler guiding ring secured to the base ring, said lower traveler guiding ring having an annular nose portion for engagement of one terminal of a traveler thereover, an upper traveler guiding ring arranged concentric with and seated on the base ring, and matching cam surfaces on the opposed surfaces of the upper traveler guiding ring and base ring, said upper traveler guiding ring being rotatable relative to the base ring for efiective vertical adjustment of the upper traveler guiding ring to facilitate mounting and removal of the upper terminal of the traveler over said upper traveler guiding ring.

11. A traveler ring assembly comprising a base ring having cam surfaces on an upper surface thereof, a lower traveler guiding ring seated on the bottom face of said base ring and including a circumferential wall nested over the inside peripheral surface of the base ring, an upper traveler guiding ring seated on the base ring, said upper traveler guiding ring having cam surfaces on its bottom face in face to face engagement with the cam surfaces on said base ring, said upper traveler guiding ring being rotatable relative to the base ring so as to raise and lower the upper traveler guiding ring relative to the base ring and lower traveler guiding ring, and means to lock said upper traveler ring in a position of rotatable adjustment.

12. A traveler ring assembly comprising a base ring having cam surfaces on an upper surface thereof, a lower traveler guiding ring seated on the bottom face of said base ring and including a circumferential wall nested on the inside peripheral surface of the base ring and terminating at its lower edge in a nose portion, an upper traveler guiding ring seated on the base ring, said upper traveler guiding ring having earn surfaces on its bottom face in face to face engagement with the cam surfaces on said base ring, said upper traveler ring being rotatable relative to the base ring so as to raise and lower the upper traveler guiding ring relative to the nose portion, and clamp on the base ring to lock said upper traveler guiding ring in a position of rotatable adjustment.

13. In a traveler ring assembly, a base ring comprising a circular body having an annular channel on its bottom surface and an inwardly upwardly inclined inside perimeter wall, an annular channel in the upper surface of said circular body defining inner and outer concentric upstanding fianges, a plurality of circumferentially disposed upwardly inclined cam surfaces on the inside bottom surface of said upper annular channel, and complemental cam surfaces on the free edge of the outer one of said concentric upstanding walls.

14. In a traveler ring assembly, a base ring comprising a circular body having an annular channel on its bottom surface and an inwardly upwardly inclined inside perimeter Wall, an annular channel in the upper surface of said circular body defining inner and outer concentric upstanding flanges, and a plurality of upwardly inclined circumferentiaily extending cam surfaces on the inside bottom surface of said upper annular channel.

15. In a traveler ring assembly, an upper traveler guiding ring comprised of :a molded thin wall annulus having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of circumferentially extending cam segments on the lower surface thereof, and external perimeter flange segments on said ring, one substantially coextensive with and parallel to but offset upwardly from each of said first named cam segments.

16. In a traveler ring assembly, an upper traveler guiding ring comprising an annulus having upper and lower surfaces and a plurality of circumferentially extending cam segments on the lower surface thereof, and external perimeter flange segments on said ring, one substantially coextensive with and parallel to but offset upwardly from each of said first named cam segments.

Hayden Feb. 12, 1907 Pimley Dec. 12, 1950 

1. A TRAVELER RING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BASE RING, MEANS SECURING SAID RING TO A RAIL FRAME, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED UPWARDLY INCLINED CAM SURFACES ON A TOP SURFACE OF SAID BASE RING, A LOWER TRAVELER GUIDING RING CLAMPED BETWEEN THE RAIL FRAME AND THE BASE RING AND OVERLYING THE INNER PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID BASE RING, AN UPPER TRAVELER GUIDING RING SEATED ON SAID BASE RING, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED UPWARDLY INCLINED CAM SURFACES ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE UPPER TRAVELER GUIDING RING, SAID UPPER TRAVELER GUIDING RING CAM SURFACES SEATING ON THE BASE RING CAM SURFACES AND BEING ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO THE BASE RING TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE HIGHTH OF THE UPPER TRAVELER GUIDING RING, AND MEANS TO LOCK THE UPPER TRAVELER RING IN POSITIONS OF RELATIVE ADJUSTMENT. 